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Boston Globe
4 days ago
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Immigration law in the Trump era
Advertisement This isn't just bureaucratic dysfunction. It's part of a larger, deliberate strategy to undermine the legal defense of immigrants, including those who are not considered high priority for removal. The most basic tools attorneys once relied on — timely communication, reliable client locators, and even the ability to visit clients — have been rendered useless by a system apparently designed to keep everyone, lawyers included, in the dark. When the very people who defend immigrants are being blocked at every turn, what hope remains for the clients they're trying to protect? Johanna Herrero, a Boston-based attorney who has been practicing immigration law since 2011, said in an interview that federal government agents are arresting and deporting immigrants they're not supposed to be arresting and deporting, including individuals with no criminal record whatsoever and whose sole offense seems to be that they're in the country illegally. It's as if police suddenly decided to arrest and jail regular citizens for jaywalking, Herrero said. Advertisement Everybody is a priority now, Jonathan Ng, who works for Herrero's law office, told me. From May 2020 to June 2022, Ng worked for the US Department of Homeland Security's office of the principal legal advisor, serving as the government's representative in immigration removal proceedings and litigating removal cases. 'It's absurd to me. It's a waste of resources and taxpayer's dollars,' Ng said. 'It's a waste of law enforcement resources, too. Federal agencies that have nothing to do with immigration — DEA, ATF — are now doing all these things to arrest people without a criminal record.' 'I've had clients with approved Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) cases since 2018, on the path to a green card, and they're being picked up and jailed like criminals,' Herrero said. In the last few months, Herrero said that her entire office did a turnaround where 'everyone's doing bond hearings now and we're hardly even seeing new people come in with asylum claims.' Her caseload used to be around 10 percent people detained; now more than 80 percent is dealing with people in detention centers all over the country. One of the worst aspects of the current system, Herrero and Ng said, is a basic lack of communication. 'Say, a client is detained on a Saturday morning … and we can't even locate where they are for about three to four business days,' Herrero said. 'Or I'm waiting on video for my client, and they're not in that location anymore. I call and they say, 'Oh, she was transferred this morning — now she's in Texas.' Where in Texas? You're talking about 20 different possible detention centers she could be in.' Advertisement Sometimes, bond hearings — where an immigration judge decides whether a detainee can be released from custody while their immigration case is pending and, if so, sets the amount of money (bond) needed to be paid to secure their release — are scheduled and by the time the attorney shows up on the video call or in person, the client has already been deported to their home country. 'No notice. No explanation. Just gone,' Herrero said. Sometimes even showing up for the client is a challenge. 'Every judge has different rules,' Herrero said. 'We've had to fly to New Mexico and Arizona on one day's notice because video hearings were denied.' Even immigrants who are following the government's orders — like By the way, none of these government actions are necessarily illegal, Herrero said. Advertisement Traditionally, though, immigration enforcement prioritized individuals with serious criminal records or those who recently crossed the border illegally, rather than casting a wide net over everyone without legal status. This new, radical approach is akin to pulling over and ticketing every single driver who's even a couple of miles over the speed limit. It's technically possible, but unprecedented and overwhelming. The message is clear: No one is safe. For immigrants caught in an erratic system, the stakes are life-altering. And for the lawyers who defend them, the work has become an exercise in frustration and heartbreak. When the rules change overnight, and justice becomes such a moving target, what are we left with? A diminished rule of law. This is an excerpt from , a Globe Opinion newsletter from columnist Marcela García. . Marcela García is a Globe columnist. She can be reached at
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Dr. Kingsley R. Chin Leads Landmark Study Published in The Spine Journal Teaching Interventional Pain Physicians the Sacrix® SI Joint Fusion Technique
Published in The Spine Journal – May 16, 2025 | DOI: 10.1016/ FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In a landmark publication featured ahead of print in The Spine Journal , Dr. Kingsley R. Chin—board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon, professor, and founder and CEO of KIC Ventures—has achieved a major breakthrough for the interventional spine community. This multicenter, prospective randomized controlled trial is the first to rigorously evaluate the safety and procedural competency of sacroiliac joint (SIJ) fusion performed by interventional pain management (IPM) physicians trained using the Sacrix® posterior-oblique technique under direct supervision by board-certified spine surgeons. SIJ fusion was traditionally the domain of spine surgeons, typically performed through a direct lateral approach. With the rise of percutaneous techniques, more IPM physicians are adopting the procedure—particularly in outpatient settings—prompting widespread debate around training standards and patient safety. Study Title : A Prospective Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial on Safety and Procedural Competency in SI Joint Fusion Performed by Interventional Pain Physicians Trained by a Spine Surgeon Study Highlights: 276 patients treated across multiple ambulatory surgery centers 47 IPM physicians trained by Dr. Chin using a standardized surgeon-developed curriculum Two randomized groups: Group 1: Supervised by board-certified spine surgeons Group 2: Supervised by clinical specialists or sales representatives Group 1 Results: 0% complications, deviations, or revisions Group 2 Results: 4.3% complication rate; 2.4% revision rate "This study validates a new training paradigm that empowers IPM physicians to perform SIJ fusions safely and effectively when properly trained by spine surgeons," said Dr. Kingsley R. Chin. "As we move spine surgery into outpatient settings and embrace interventional approaches, surgeon-led education becomes more essential than ever." To date, Dr. Chin and his team have trained over 400 interventional pain physicians in Sacrix® and LESS Exposure Spine Surgery techniques. In 2025, they launched the Visit. Education. Training. (VET) Tour at their headquarters at 6550 North Federal Highway, Suite 510, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308 . The facility features state-of-the-art operating rooms designed for hands-on cadaver and didactic training, offering physicians the opportunity to: Discuss indications for surgery with expert faculty and key opinion leaders (KOLs) Practice instrument handling and procedural steps Provide real-time feedback on improving technologies This immersive program fosters collaboration between surgeons and IPM physicians to ensure safe adoption of interventional spine procedures in outpatient settings. The publication has received widespread praise from contributors and key opinion leaders: "Wow… thank you so much for letting me be a part of this important study. It's truly an honor to be included among such a talented and dedicated group. You are both a gentleman and a scholar, and I'm grateful for your leadership in pushing our field forward. This publication is a huge win for the interventional pain community and a testament to what collaboration and vision can achieve." — Dr. Paul Ky, Interventional Spine Specialist "As an orthopedic spine surgeon who has trained IPM physicians firsthand, I see this study as a blueprint for the future. It proves we can share techniques safely through structured education and elevate patient care across specialties." — Dr. Erik Spayde, MD, Harvard-Trained, Board-Certified Spine Surgeon The study utilized the Sacrix® system with titanium screw fixation and NanoFuse Biologics—a synthetic, bioactive bone graft. The posterior-oblique approach was designed for reproducibility, safety, and efficiency, making it ideal for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) amid rising demand for LESS invasive spine procedures. This publication marks a pivotal step forward in the evolution of interventional spine surgery. It offers a validated framework for bridging the gap between specialties through collaborative, surgeon-led training—ultimately delivering safer outcomes for patients worldwide. About Dr. Kingsley R. Chin:Dr. Kingsley R. Chin is a board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon, professor, and CEO-founder of KIC Ventures . A Harvard-trained physician, he has published more than 90 peer-reviewed scientific articles, holds over 60 patents, and is recognized for pioneering Less Exposure Spine Surgery (LESS™). His leadership bridges innovation, education, and interdisciplinary collaboration to advance outpatient spine care globally. About KIC in 2013 as the venture arm of Kingsley Investment Company LLC, KIC Ventures focuses exclusively on advancing outpatient spine surgery through its Less Exposure Spine Surgery (LESS™) philosophy. With a portfolio of innovative spine technologies and a commitment to empowering physicians, KIC Ventures has become the world's largest private equity firm with a majority-owned portfolio of differentiated spine companies focused on outpatient spine solutions. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE KIC Ventures Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Yahoo
El Salvadoran mother reunites with son after ICE arrest despite legal status
The Brief Kevin Zaldaña, an El Salvadoran immigrant with proper documentation, was unexpectedly detained by ICE during an operation in Fresno, Texas, causing distress for his family. After weeks of uncertainty, Zaldaña was reunited with his mother in Houston, where he expressed relief and shared the emotional impact of his detention. U.S. Customs and Immigration Services have approved Zaldaña's application for permanent residency, with his green card expected to arrive soon, while ICE has not commented on the incident. HOUSTON - After weeks of uncertainty, an El Salvadoran mother and her son are back home in Houston following his unexpected detention by ICE during an operation in Fresno, Texas. Despite having proper documentation, Kevin Zaldaña was arrested and detained, leaving his family in distress. What they're saying Kevin Zaldaña expressed relief at being reunited with his mother, Yolanda Santos, after his release. "It took me by surprise because I was certain that I wouldn't be arrested. I have social security, I have all my documentation in order. All of a sudden, they took me and put handcuffs on me," Zaldaña said. The incident occurred while Zaldaña was at work during an ICE operation targeting gang members. Despite presenting his documents, ICE officials claimed they were fake and that he had a deportation order. "The ICE official told me that I didn't show up in the system and that my social security was fake and that I had an order of deportation. I knew that was a lie. So everything took me by surprise," he explained. What we know Zaldaña, 20 years old, entered the U.S. legally through the Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJ), known as the "Juvenile Visa," a humanitarian program allowing certain immigrant youths to apply for lawful permanent residency. He was arrested by ICE during an operation, then released on bond. Zaldaña arrived in the U.S. when he was 14 and has been working to provide for his visually impaired mother since he was 16, using a work visa through SIJ classification. However, ICE suspected him of being a gang member and accused him of being in the country illegally. Zaldaña was on lunch break with some of his co-workers on Feb. 25. On their way back to work, a patrol officer trailed behind their car and pulled them over, according to Zaldaña. He was asked if he was a gang member, and if he had any tattoos. He was also asked if he had a criminal record. "I responded no," he said. "My son is not a criminal. He was arrested at work. They didn't arrest him for doing any illicit activity," Santos emphasized. The emotional reunion was captured on camera, marking a moment of joy for both mother and son. "It was a moment of joy. I was so happy to know that my son was coming home after being away. I would often think about his wellbeing. I didn't know if he was sleeping well or if he was eating," Santos said. Since returning home, Zaldaña has been gradually adjusting to normal life. "I'm barely getting some good sleep. I still have nightmares that I'm detained. It's a frustrating feeling, I live in fear," he said. What's next Kevin Zaldaña's fears may soon be alleviated as U.S. Customs and Immigration Services have approved his application for permanent residency, with his green card expected to arrive shortly. ICE did not respond to requests for comment in time for this report. The Source FOX 26's Jonathan Mejia spoke with Kevin Zaldaña and Yolanda Santos.
